Department for Transport

Railways: Europe

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the expansion of sleeper train services in continental Europe, what plans they have to link up with such services and to provide direct night train services from Northern England and Scotland to continental destinations.

baroness vere of norbiton: International passenger rail services provide a number of benefits for passengers, businesses and the wider economy, including environmental benefits. The Government supports the future growth and success of international passenger rail and would welcome the development of potential sleeper services from across Great Britain to continental destinations, linking up with European services. To that end, the Department for Transport has engaged with UK and European partners to encourage the future growth of international passenger rail services. Officials stand ready to further engage with any potential operators of new international services, including sleeper services, where they have a proposition they wish to explore.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Renewable Energy

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the decision of the High Court which found that their consent for two gas-power units at Drax followed legal procedures, what plans they have to review their consent for these facilities to account for any increased role of renewable electricity generation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord callanan: There are no plans to review the consent granted on 4 October 2019 for the Drax Power Station Re-Powering Project.

Colombia: Climate Change

baroness coussins: To ask Her Majesty's Government what funding they have provided to climate change initiatives in the region of Chocó in Colombia; and which projects they are supporting in that region.

lord callanan: Her Majesty's Government provides official development assistance (ODA) to climate change initiatives in the region of Chocó in Colombia through two programmes delivered through the UK’s International Climate Finance (ICF), UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) and Partnerships for Forests (P4F). These projects aim to tackle deforestation in Colombia by fostering sustainable alternative livelihoods and the development of the bioeconomy in order to reduce CO2 emissions. UK PACT is providing over £700,000 grant funding to a ‘Community-Based Sustainable Tourism Enhancing Project’ which supports activity in 38 municipalities in Colombia including the Choco region. The project aims to build the capacity for commercialising sustainable tourism opportunities, in collaboration with the local communities, by using enhanced technological approach and designing a novel scientific-based tourism business model. P4F is providing over £1.5 million in grant funding to two projects which have activities in the Choco region: ‘Colombia Pacific Acai’ and ‘Sustainable Heart of Palm’. P4F supports these innovative projects to grow and secure new private investment by improving the business models and building the capabilities of local actors across the value chain. In addition, the Newton-Caldas Fund, through UKRI and the British Council, has funded activity related to biodiversity in the Chocó region as part of the Colombia Bio programme. Colombia Bio aims to protect the unique biodiversity of Colombia through improving our understanding of ecosystems, their response to environmental- including climate change, and support sustainable and socially inclusive development. Activities include UK funding of over £300,000 to a project improving data on the Atrato River.

Colombia: Climate Change

baroness coussins: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they plan to provide, or have provided, to the implementation of the Environmental Action Plan for Choco developed in response to the Colombian Court’s ruling judgment T-622.

lord callanan: Her Majesty's Government has not directly provided nor currently plans to provide support to the implementation of the Environmental Action Plan for Chocó developed in response to the Colombian Court’s ruling judgement T-622. Officials from BEIS’ International Climate Finance (ICF) team met with some of the appointed ‘Guardians of the Atratos’ in late 2019, to understand the context of the Colombian court’s ruling judgement T-6222 and determine the broader impact on programme implementation in Colombia. Through the FCO’s Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF), HMG supports the implementation of the peace accords between the Government of Colombia and the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), including in Chocó Department. Included in this support is assistance to help deliver Chocó’s rural development plan (PDET), which was designed in accord with the local population and specifically mentions the T-6222 ruling judgement. Additionally, UK Research and Innovation, via the HMG ODA Newton-Caldas Fund, has funded a project in which an international consortium of researchers is working to support the communities along the Atrato River through improving scientific data on the state of the river. This has included building capacity amongst riverine communities enabling them to carry out environmental monitoring activity, and making data accessible to communities, advocacy groups, and policy makers.

Business and Manufacturing Industries: Productivity

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proposals they have for the improvement of productivity in business and manufacturing in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord callanan: We are strongly committed to supporting UK manufacturing, which plays a vital role in the UK economy by driving innovation, exports, job creation, and productivity growth.We are also committed to ongoing engagement with industry to ensure our manufacturers have the support they need to maintain production effectively. We have put in place an unprecedented package of Government support for businesses during the current COVID-19 pandemic.The Business Productivity Review announced a £56 million package of support and set out the steps we will take to boost business productivity, focusing on leadership and management skills, technology adoption, and external support. These measures will help businesses respond to and recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic..Through our Business Basics Programme, we are also testing new ways of encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including those in the manufacturing sector, to adopt tried and tested technology and management practices that can boost productivity.Through the Made Smarter programme, we are investing up to £167 million to help UK manufacturers to adopt and innovate in industrial digital technologies that will make our firms more productive. We are investing up to £147 million for a Manufacturing Made Smarter Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund programme to develop innovative solutions to manufacturing challenges, as well as £20 million through our Made Smarter North West Pilot to support up to 3000 manufacturing SMEs to adopt and exploit digital technologies to increase their productivity. This could add £115 million to the North West economy and increase productivity by up to 25% by 2030.

Artificial Intelligence: Research

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial support they are giving for research in artificial intelligence; and to which companies and institutions.

lord callanan: As of April 2019, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) investment in AI relevant research and innovation activities totals over £1bn. This breaks down as follows: Training: £135m, including a £100m investment in UKRI AI Centres for Doctoral Training.Research and Innovation: £530m, of which £129m funds ‘novel AI algorithms, tools and techniques’, and £401m funds ‘applications and implications of AI’.Key Strategic Investments: £410m, which includes support for the Alan Turing Institute, the Hartree Centre, Health Data Research UK, and AI relevant activities across relevant investments made through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and Strategic Priorities Fund. Businesses have matched £742m of Innovate UK and EPSRC investments by at least £265m cash and in-kind contributions. The Catapult network, supported by UKRI and additional third-party investments, also have a key role to play in this space in enabling AI and data capabilities across sectors and leveraging further private investment. Almost 300 organisations receive funding from UKRI for AI research and innovation. Industry organisations receiving funding include, Five AI Ltd, Oxbotica Ltd, Nissan Motor Manufacturing, Westfield Sports Car Ltd, and Vivacity Labs Ltd. Our most active institutions in this area include; University College London, The University of Oxford, Imperial College London, The University of Manchester, and The University of Edinburgh.

Hydrogen: Production

lord oates: To ask Her Majesty's Government what research funding they are providing to accelerate the development of cost-effective production of clean hydrogen through electrolysis.

lord callanan: The BEIS Energy Innovation Programme funded four feasibility studies into various innovative ways to produce hydrogen by electrolysis. The reports from these studies are available on the government website. Two projects went on to receive £10.6m in further funding. ITM Power, a Sheffield based electrolyser manufacturer, received £7.5m to further develop their technology; to trial semi-automation in their production process; and work with Orsted and Phillips 66, to design a system to supply Phillips 66’s Humber oil refinery with green hydrogen. Environmental Resources Management, a global sustainability consultancy, received £3.1m to carry out a detailed engineering design on a concept that combined floating offshore wind with electrolysis to produce green hydrogen. In addition, several relevant initiatives are funded through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). These include “Green Hydrogen for Humberside” funded from the £170m Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy Challenge Fund, and several smart local energy system project which incorporate hydrogen electrolysis funded from the £102.5m Prospering from the Energy Revolution Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. Innovate UK is supporting electrolysis projects such as the £226k Centurion Power-to-Gas feasibility study, and several electrolysis research projects are supported through UKRI’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell research hub (H2FC SUPERGEN).

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Myanmar: Coronavirus

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that over 500 people have been sentenced to between one month and one year in prison in Myanmar since late March for violating movement-control orders.

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the briefing by the Secretary General of the UN COVID-19 and Human Rights: We are all in this together, published on 23 April, what representations they have made to the government of Myanmar about ensuring that curfews and physical-distancing directives aimed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are not exploited by security forces to exercise arbitrary and discriminatory detention of civilians.

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Myanmar about the protection of religious minorities, including in relation to the arrest of five Christian pastors in Yangon and 12 Muslims in Mandalay, who were reportedly deemed as breaking COVID-19 curfews when praying at home.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The United Kingdom is concerned by reports that public health policies used to tackle COVID-19, such as curfews and movement control orders, have been misused to violate people's civil liberties, including freedom of expression and religious belief in Myanmar. It is vital the public health policies are applied equally to all communities and not exploited to target particular groups. We have raised our concerns about civil liberties in Myanmar with the Government of Myanmar, including at a Ministerial level. We will continue to stress that public health and security concerns should not be used to undermine fundamental freedoms. We will also continue to support Myanmar's democratisation process and moves to end Myanmar's conflict in order to address the root causes of many of the violations and abuses seen in Myanmar.

Israeli Settlements

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel following the statement made by that government’s Defence Minister on 1 June, that he had ordered Israel’s military to prepare for the annexation of parts of the West Bank in accordance with the peace plan announced by the President of the United States on 28 January.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Foreign Secretary made clear our concerns about reports that the new Israeli Government coalition has reached an agreement which may pave the way for annexation of parts of the West Bank during a call with the Israeli Foreign Minister on 2 June. We also made clear our concerns at the UN Security Council remote meeting on the Middle East Peace Process on 20 May. The UK position is clear: any unilateral moves towards annexation of parts of the West Bank by Israel would be damaging to efforts to restart peace negotiations and contrary to international law. The UK is committed to making progress towards a two-state solution. We will continue to press Israel and the Palestinians strongly on the need to refrain from taking actions which make peace more difficult.

Arab States: Coronavirus

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the response to COVID-19 in (1) Somalia, (2) Sudan, and (3) Yemen, is conflict sensitive.

baroness sugg: We continue to work closely with international partners towards peace in Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, as in other countries in conflict that have been impacted by COVID-19. The UK supports the UN Secretary-General's call for a global ceasefire in armed conflicts. In each of Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, the impacts of COVID-19 and conflict are closely intertwined, as is UK action on bothUK support for Somalia's COVID-19 response includes tackling risks of increased instability and protecting existing state-building efforts. Our action includes promoting inclusive politics, helping to maintain the state's core functions (such as revenue-raising, managing public finance and security), and supporting the resilience of communities across Somalia plagued by al-Shabaab and the risks of conflict.Sudan was facing economic collapse even before COVID-19. The UK is taking a leading role in helping the Government of Sudan to secure the international financial support it needs to avoid this, one of the greatest risks to stability and conflict. As the second largest bilateral donor in Sudan we are working with the Government of Sudan to ensure the most vulnerable continue to receive humanitarian support, and are monitoring how COVID-19 is impacting conflict dynamics so that programming avoids contributing to instability. This includes a £6m contribution to the UN COVID-19 response plan for Sudan.In Yemen the UK will provide up to £10 million through our new Local Peacebuilding Programme over the next three years, which includes funding a Conflict Sensitivity Platform to support humanitarian and development agencies delivering aid in Yemen to do no harm and make positive contributions to peace and stability. The programme will work with local communities to address the drivers of conflict, and in turn, strengthen social cohesion in Yemen. We are also supporting the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths in his efforts to find a political solution to the conflict. Given the threat of COVID-19 it is more important than ever that both the Houthis and the Government of Yemen agree to Griffiths' proposals.

Armed Conflict: Females

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to mark the 20th Anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: 2020 is an important year for the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. This government is committed to marking the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, calling for renewed commitment by the international community to implement all of the WPS UN Security Council resolutions. Our priorities for this year are to promote women's meaningful inclusion in peace processes; and increase support and protection for women resolving conflict, countering violent extremism and building peace at the grassroots level. As COVID-19 impacts on communities, the knowledge, perspectives and skills that these women bring are even more important.

UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the remarks made to the International Relations and Defence Committee byGeneral Sir Richard Barrons on 12 March that the UK's role with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Missionwas "not in support of a strategy of any kind other than "We should do a bit more UN peacekeeping"."

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We do not recognise General Sir Richard Barrons' characterisation of the UK's forthcoming deployment to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA. The deployment, to one of the UN's largest and most complex Peacekeeping operations, supports UK priorities for peacekeeping reform. It also forms part of our strategic approach to the increasing instability in the Sahel region, which brings together our development, diplomacy and defence expertise to help tackle the underlying causes of poverty and conflict in the region. Fulfilling a capability gap communicated by the UN, UK troops will deliver a long-range reconnaissance capability that will provide greater awareness of possible threats. This will enable the mission to be more responsive and will contribute to the delivery of MINUSMA's mandate, including protection of civilians, as well as supporting the safety and security of UN peacekeepers. This deployment broadly maintains the UK's level of commitment to peacekeeping following the drawdown of the engineer task force from South Sudan earlier this year.

Myanmar: Armed Conflict

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the situation between government-controlled and Arakan Army forces in Rakhine State in Myanmar; and what discussions they have had at the United Nations in relation to the conflict.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The British Government is deeply concerned by fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army. We call on all sides to resolve their differences peacefully. The security situation must not be used as an excuse for further restrictions on the Rohingya and other minorities in Rakhine. On 14 May, the United Kingdom convened the UN Security Council to discuss the situation in Rakhine and Chin States and called for a cessation of hostilities, greater humanitarian access and lifting of the internet shutdown to facilitate the Covid 19 response.

Northern Ireland Office

Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020

lord mccrea of magherafelt and cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by the Minister of State for the Northern Ireland Office on 4 June (HC Deb, cols 1018–20), on what basis they were required to bring the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 to Parliament following the Northern Ireland Assembly’s vote against such regulations.

viscount younger of leckie: In accordance with the duty placed on the Government under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019, regulations are now in place to make provision for accessing abortions in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Assembly has not opposed the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020. The debate in the Assembly on 2 June 2020 was focused on one aspect of those regulations, severe fetal impairment, and does not have any binding effects on the Regulations we have made. The Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 have now been debated in both Houses of Parliament as required under the ‘made affirmative’ procedure and approved by the House of the Lords. The House of Commons will today vote on the Regulations to approve them to remain in force as the law on access to abortion in Northern Ireland. As abortion remains a devolved issue in Northern Ireland, the Assembly remains able to legislate on abortion, subject to the usual Assembly and other procedures, including compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights. The UK Government will continue to ensure we abide by our domestic and international legal obligations.

Abortion: Northern Ireland

lord shinkwin: To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) how many, and (2) what proportion of, submissions to the consultation A new legal framework for abortion services in Northern Ireland,which closed on 19 December 2019, came from (a) individuals who identified themselves as a person with a disability, (b) disability charities, (c) organisations led and managed by disabled people, and (d) parents of disabled people. [T]

lord shinkwin: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many meetings (1) the Northern Ireland Office, or (2) any other Government body, had with representatives of (a) abortion providers, (b) disability charities and organisations, (c) organisations led and managed by disabled people, and (d) parents of disabled people, on the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020.

viscount younger of leckie: The public consultation, A new legal framework for abortion services in Northern Ireland, provided an opportunity for people and organisations in Northern Ireland to contribute their views on how the Government could best deliver on its statutory duty under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019 in implementing the CEDAW Report recommendations.   The Government engaged with a wide range of stakeholders who reached out seeking further discussions during the consultation process. However, the consultation process did not collect personal data that would identify a respondent as a person with a disability. We carefully analysed all of the views expressed in the submissions received. It is the Government’s firm view that the Regulations properly comply with the statutory duty under section 9 of the NIEF Act, and are also compliant with the UK’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Quarantine

baroness mcgregor-smith: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are actively considering a 14-day quarantine period for travellers arriving in the UK; and whether such a quarantine is in line with the latest medical advice.

lord bethell: Regulations to require international arrivals to self-isolate for 14 days when they arrive in the United Kingdom have now been laid, they will come into force on 8 June. The quarantine system is designed to keep the transmission rate of COVID-19 low in the UK, stop new cases being brought in from abroad and help prevent a second wave of COVID-19. The scientific advice is clear - it tells us that COVID-19 cases entering the UK from abroad matter most when the UK has a low level of infection.

Coronavirus: Quarantine

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential to use electronic border detection equipment to quarantine individual counties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: The Government continues to be guided by the best scientific and clinical advice to aid decision-making. We are not currently considering electronic border detection equipment to quarantine individual counties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government to what extent they will be relying on machine learning and data held by large commercial organisations to prioritise people for testing or to determine limitations of movement in the next phase of the COVID-19 lockdown.

lord bethell: The Government continues to be guided by the best scientific and clinical advice to aid decision-making but is not using automatic intelligence or machine learning algorithms to prioritise the allocation of testing for COVID-19.

Coronavirus: Medical Treatments

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what data are collected at each stage of the process of treating cases of COVID-19 to inform the evaluation of the efficacy of such treatment (1) close to real time, and (2) in subsequent analysis.

lord bethell: Data is not collected centrally on the different types of treatment COVID-19 patients receive and the outcomes of such treatments.

Coronavirus: Screening

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the daily figures for the numbers of people tested for the COVID-19 include the 100,000 people who are being tested by post in a random survey led by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and carried out by Ipsos MORI.

lord bethell: The number of tests undertaken through the survey led by Ipsos Mori and Imperial College London is reported in the daily testing figures under Pillar 4. These tests do not contribute to the number of people tested, as through these studies people are often tested repeatedly in order to better understand how the virus is changing in the population over time.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what use they have made of the stochastic version of the Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered model CovidSIM v1.1.

lord bethell: The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) is advised on infectious disease modelling by a working group, the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M). SPI-M consists of several modelling groups, all of whom have developed their own models independently, and some have multiple models for different purposes, of which most have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. For those models that have not yet been published in peer-reviewed journals, there is an intention to do so. Some models have complex methodologies while others are simpler, with each different approach able to provide useful insights for policy-making decisions. These independent models come from a range of United Kingdom institutions and universities and the advice from them are regarded, individually and collectively, as some of the best in the world, and the UK Government is making the most of the talented UK modelling community’s expertise through SPI-M’s consensus approach.The stochastic version of the Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered model CovidSIM v1.1 has not been used by SPI-M; it is a relatively simple simulation to support policy development in countries where there is less modelling capacity and capability.

Mental Health: Coronavirus

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase activities aimed at alleviating worry, in particular for people isolating alone, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: We recognise the effect that social distancing and self-isolation may have on a person’s mental wellbeing. We have published official guidance on mental health and wellbeing online at GOV.UK and are promoting this through the Every Mind Matters online resource. Our guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection also includes tips on protecting mental wellbeing during isolation.We are working with the National Health Service and Public Health England, service users, academics and the voluntary sector to gather evidence and assess the potential longer-term mental health impacts of COVID-19 and plan for how to support the public’s mental health and wellbeing throughout the ‘recovery’ phase.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions

lord harris of haringey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byLord Bethell on 14 May (HL3016) and 28 May (HL4613), what assessment they have made of how the answers given “answer all aspects of the question”.

lord bethell: I can only reiterate that Written Answers are drafted by teams who are experienced in their area of work and provide the best available information.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

lord patel of bradford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they will provide for care workers in self-isolation as part of the test and trace programme; whether, underthatprogramme, all care workers who came into contact with a care home resident with COVID-19 symptoms would be expected to self-isolate; and whether a care worker returning to work using public transport after a period of self-isolation would be expected to isolate again if they received another alert.

lord bethell: On 4 June Public Health England updated guidance on the management of staff and exposed patients or residents in health and social care settings to reflect NHS Test and Trace.This guidance outlines that if a health or care worker has had close recent contact with someone who has COVID-19, healthcare workers must self-isolate if the NHS Test and Trace service advises the individual to do so. If contacted after a previous period of isolation, they would be expected to isolate again. Close contact excludes circumstances where personal protective equipment is being worn in accordance with current guidance on infection, prevention and control.The COVID-19: management of staff and exposed patients or residents in health and social care settings guidance was first published on 4 April in an online only format on GOV.UK.

Clinical Trials: EU Countries

lord sharkey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bethell on 12 May (HL4366), which aspects of the forthcoming EU Clinical Trial Regulation (Regulation (EU) (No 536/2014) they currently consider to be in the best interests of (1) UK patients, (2) industry, (3) non-commercial researchers, and (4) hospitals.

lord bethell: The Medicines and Medical Devices Bill 2020 will provide the mechanism to allow the United Kingdom to decide any aspects of the forthcoming European Union Clinical Trial Regulation (EU CTR) it would want to implement through national legislation.The CTR is largely based on internationally recognised requirements to conduct a clinical trial and national UK legislation already implements many aspects of these international requirements.Future changes made to the UK legislation will be done on the basis of what is in the best interests of the UK with the focus on remaining a leading global player, promoting patient safety; attracting more research to the UK; and enabling the UK to keep up with emerging technologies and maintain an internationally competitive clinical trials infrastructure.

Contact Tracing: Fraud

lord lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they are providing to the public, and via which channels, to help them reduce the risk of being defrauded by those impersonating the staff of the NHS test and trace service through texts, emails and phone calls; and who is responsible for taking steps to reduce the risk of such attempted frauds.

lord bethell: The NHS Test and Trace service was launched on 28 May 2020 and information on how the service will contact people by text, email and phone was published on 27 May in an online only format on GOV.UK.Guidance on advice on how to protect yourself and business from fraud and cyber crime was released by the Home Office. This is available in an online only format on GOV.UK. It was last updated on 27 April 2020.

Contact Tracing: Fraud

lord lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government who is responsible for reducing the risk of the public receiving fraudulent calls or emails purporting to come from the local authority and other teams involved in the NHS test and trace service.

lord lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the penalties under civil or criminal law for (1) those organising frauds relating to the NHS test and trace service, () those aiding and abetting them, and (3) those who fail to take reasonable steps to protect their customers against such fraud; and what are the penalties for those employed in the NHS test and trace service, whether as individuals or as organisations, for misusing the information to which they have access.

lord lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the process for reporting suspicious texts, emails and phone calls purporting to relate to the NHS test and trace service; to whom should such reports be made; whether Action Fraud and the Suspicious Email Reporting Service are involved; and, if so, whether there any plans for a separate, simpler process accessed from the main page of Action Fraud.

lord bethell: The Government launched its new NHS Test and Trace service on 28 May 2020. This includes enhanced contact tracing.NHS Test and Trace has been developed to government security standards and we have been working with the National Cyber Security Centre, on measures to keep the public safe. The NHS Test and Trace service uses text messages, email or phone. All text or emails will ask people to sign into the NHS Test and Trace contact tracing website with a set of unique characters provided alongside a secure link to the site. For those people that are unable to respond via email or text, perhaps because they do not have those options available to them, a phone-based service will contact them and support them through the process.If the public are concerned about whether a call or email they receive comes from NHS Test and Trace service they can visit GOV.UK and view a page which lists the official phone numbers used by this service and can also check what is and is not going to be asked.If anyone thinks they have been sent a scam message, they can report it to Action Fraud. If people receive an email which they are not quite sure about, they can forward it to the National Cyber Security Centre’s Suspicious Email Reporting Service and to report a spam text, they can forward the message to Ofcom’s spam texting service on 7726.Any action to investigate reports of potential fraud will fall to the police / National Crime Agency and if prosecuted it will be for the courts to decide sentencing.

HIV Infection: Coronavirus

lord black of brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have been made of the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of people living with HIV across the UK; and what support is being provided to those individuals.

lord bethell: The Government and the National Health Service recognise that the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on some people living with long term conditions like HIV can be significant.Mental health services across England have remained open for business throughout the pandemic and mental health providers have been working hard to ensure that all those who need them have access to mental health services. This includes instructing mental health trusts to establish all-age 24 hours a day, seven days a week crisis helplines and issuing guidance to trusts on staff training, prioritisation of services and how to maximise use of digital and virtual channels to keep delivering support to patients.In addition, the ‘Every Mind Matters’ online resource provides advice and practical tips to help look after mental health and wellbeing. It has now seen 3.8 million visits and over 380,000 additional completions of mind plans to improve wellbeing and mental health since the introduction of social distancing.

Palantir: Coronavirus

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to achieve anonymisation where necessary of personal data provided to Palantir Technologies UK for COVID-19 analysis, in the light of research suggesting that health data cannot be effectively anonymised.

lord bethell: NHS England is the data controller for data processed in the NHS COVID-19 Data Store. Data is de-identified by National Health Service staff before the data is analysed on Palantir's platform. As such, no identifiable data is being accessed for modelling for NHS England. Data is only processed under instruction by NHS England and Palantir cannot use the data for its own purposes.All data in the NHS COVID-19 Data Store is under NHS England and NHS Improvement’s control. All data held in the NHS COVID-19 Data Store remains under the control of the NHS at all times and is being processed in accordance with the law.

Coronavirus: Niclosamide

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the antihelmintic drug, Niclosamide, as a potential treatment for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19; and what assessment they have made of trials undertaken in South Korea on the use of Niclosamide to treat COVID-19.

lord bethell: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has not received any applications for the use of niclosamide as a treatment for COVID-19 and has not undertaken any assessment of the trials in South Korea.Currently, there are no ongoing clinical trials in the United Kingdom involving niclosamide for the treatment of COVID-19. However, there are three worldwide trials regarding this treatment listed on the United States National Library of Medicine, in the United States, France and Egypt, though none of these are recruiting currently.The MHRA is working closely with the Department and the office of the Chief Medical Officer to prioritise potential treatments for COVID-19. The MHRA will consider any application made by a sponsor or potential marketing authorisation holder to run a clinical trial.

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) development of the NHS COVID-19 contact tracing application, and (2) trial of that application on the Isle of Wight.

lord bethell: The purpose of the Isle of Wight phase is to improve the user experience of the National Health Service COVID-19 contact tracing application and to understand the effectiveness of the Test and Trace programme. Uptake and correct usage of the app is important and we have engaged with residents on the Isle of Wight about how the app operates, why people choose not to have it, and their attitudes towards it and the wider Test and Trace programme. Alongside these, we are measuring quantitative measures such as usage and download rates. Just like any high-quality app, we will continually improve it over the coming weeks for optimal functionality as data continues to come in.

Department for International Development

Myanmar: Humanitarian Aid

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much, in total, the UK has provided in aid funding for humanitarian assistance to Burmese Chin refugees in Malaysia and Delhi.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK provides humanitarian assistance to Chin refugees in Malaysia and India via the UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency. The UK has provided UNHCR with predictable, core, unearmarked funding of £35 million per year since 2012, currently as part of a four-year (2017-2020) programme of support alongside other UN humanitarian agencies. In India and Malaysia UNHCR provides support to refugees, including ethnic Chins, comprising advocacy, legal representation, community outreach and assistance programmes.

Developing Countries: Foreign Trade

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support producers in the global south whose trade has been disrupted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is championing a comprehensive and coordinated trade and development response to COVID-19 working. This includes advocating for developing country interests at the G20 and WTO and adapting our policy and programming portfolios to provide immediate support.Through the Trade and Investment Advocacy Fund, Manufacturing Africa programme and our funding to the World Bank, we are supporting countries to better understand the impacts of COVID-19, design their policy response accordingly, engage in the WTO, increase their production of COVID-19 related goods such as personal protection equipment, and ease the passage of goods across borders.The government is engaging with businesses in the UK and in developing countries to understand the challenges they are facing to protect incomes, livelihoods, and ensure that supply chains remain resilient. We are developing a programme of support in partnership with businesses, to address these issues in the most vulnerable countries and are also providing support to Business Fights Poverty to accelerate a global learning process to enable business to provide support to vulnerable workers in global supply chains. This includes the launch of the Business and COVID-19 Response Centre, an online tool that hosts a range of resources intended to empower companies to take action in support of their most vulnerable employees, suppliers, customers and communities. They have had over 9,000 visits to their COVID-19 Response Centre and other resources and over 1,700 people have registered to engage in the process.We are continuing to finalise further trade agreements, building on those already signed. Together these will grant preferential market access to around 100 developing countries, helping to support their economic recovery.

Department for Education

Pupils: ICT

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) computers or tablets, and (2) WiFi routers they have supplied to (a) pupils in care, (b) Year 10 pupils, and (c) those being supported by social workers, in line with their announcement of plans to do so on 19 April.

baroness berridge: The government is providing laptops and tablets to vulnerable and disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examinations in year 10, receiving support from a social worker, including pre-school children, or are a care leaver. The government is also providing over 50,000 4G wireless routers to care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and disadvantaged children in year 10 who do not have internet connections.The department has also partnered with BT to give 10,000 young people free access to BT WiFi hotspots, who do not have access to good internet by other means.Local authorities and academy trusts are best placed to identify and distribute the laptops and tablets to children and young people who need devices. The Department invited local authorities to order devices for the most vulnerable children first - children with a social worker and care leavers.Devices are being delivered to local authorities daily and will continue to be distributed throughout June as planned.

Languages: GCSE

baroness coussins: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many candidates for a language GCSE who entered for examination in summer 2020 were subsequently withdrawn by 15 May; and of those, how many were entered for less-taught, heritage or community languages.

baroness berridge: The Department does not hold information about candidates who entered for a language GCSE examination in Summer 2020 and were subsequently withdrawn. Exam entries are a matter for the individual, independent exam boards.

Universities: Students

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support university students who are returning to study in September.

baroness berridge: We expect universities to be open for the autumn term and for them to offer a blend of online teaching and in-person tuition as they consider appropriate, while taking account of the need to minimise the risk to staff and students.We have now published guidance for higher education providers on reopening campuses and buildings. This will support them in deciding when and how they can make facilities accessible again to students and staff, as long as they follow the relevant public health advice, available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reopening-buildings-and-campuses.

Home Education: Coronavirus

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of home schooling made necessary by the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness berridge: Our latest guidance on remote education during COVID-19 is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19The department is continuing to assess the impact of school closures on children and young people’s education. We are working closely with educational providers, sector organisations, international institutions and across government to understand the risks to education attainment and wellbeing, and identify how best to support children and young people make up for time spent out of school.We are committed to ensuring that all children can continue to learn remotely in a number of ways during these very difficult circumstances, and are supporting sector-led initiatives such as the Oak National Academy. This brand-new enterprise has been created by 40 teachers from schools across England and is providing 180 free video lessons each week, across a broad range of subjects for every year group from Reception through to year 10. By 24 May, over 2.3 million users had visited the Oak Academy site and over 8.6 million lessons had been accessed.Additionally, the Government has committed over £100 million to boost remote education, including by providing devices and internet access for those who need it most, ensuring every school that wants it has access to free, expert technical support to get set up on Google for Education or Microsoft’s Office 365 Education, and offering peer support from schools and colleges leading the way with the use of education technology.It is up to each school to determine how to deliver education to its pupils and we recognise that many schools have been working hard to share resources – both online and printed resources – for children who are at home.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Holiday Play Schemes

lord oates: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether private holiday clubs which usually take place on school premises will be allowed to go ahead during the summer holidays; and what guidance they are providing to schools in this respect.

baroness berridge: The government’s overriding priority remains keeping the public safe. Any steps taken as part of a phased lifting of restrictions need to therefore be measured and guided by the science. It is for this reason that, while we have set out that primary schools can now welcome back some of their pupils as part of a phased and cautious approach, we are advising that out of school settings, including private holiday clubs, should remain closed for the time-being.The government will keep this position under review and continue to be guided by the best scientific and medical advice to ensure that the right decisions are taken at the right time.

Students: EU Nationals

baroness royall of blaisdon: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to be able to inform EU students who wish to study in the UK from the 2021/22 academic year whether they will be liable for (1) UK, or (2) overseas, fees.

baroness berridge: We recognise how important it is that higher education students and institutions have information on eligibility for student support before applications open for university courses. Applications for courses starting in the academic year 2021/22 do not open until September 2020. We will provide sufficient notice for prospective EU students on fee arrangements ahead of the 2021/22 academic year and subsequent years in the future.

Schools: Coronavirus

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what exact metrics will be used to determinewhether schools need to shut due to the COVID-19 pandemic, following their partial reopeningto all pupils.

baroness berridge: To help schools manage wider opening we have published guidance for schools including how any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 should be handled: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings.Where a child or staff member tests positive, the rest of their class or ‘bubble’ should be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 14 days. The other household members of that wider class or group do not need to self-isolate unless the child, young person or staff member they live with in that group subsequently develops symptoms. Closure of the school itself will generally not be necessary where the school is observing guidance on infection prevention and control which will reduce the risk of transmission.As part of the national test and trace programme, if other cases are detected within the cohort or school, a Public Health England local health protection team will conduct a rapid investigation and will advise the school on the most appropriate action to take.

Children: Social Services

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Berridge on 21 May (HL4173), what is their definition of “children on the edge of receiving support from children’s social care services”.

baroness berridge: This phrase is part of a wider description of vulnerable children and young people for the purposes of educational attendance during the COVID-19 outbreak. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-people/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-peopleThroughout the COVID-19 outbreak, educational providers have been able to offer places to children and young people who may be vulnerable and therefore would benefit from attendance. This includes children who have an education, health and care plan, who have been assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act, or who have been identified as vulnerable for some other reason, at the educational provider or local authority’s discretion. The phrase, 'children on the edge of receiving support from children’s social care services', is one of the examples given as an illustration of children who might be in this category of 'otherwise vulnerable' children and therefore benefit from attendance. It is not a precise definition as the emphasis is on local discretion and was chosen partly as a response to requests from local authorities, schools and other safeguarding partners for the flexibility to offer education places to children and young people who didn’t meet one of the very specific, defined thresholds. These children might include, for example, some children and young people receiving early help services.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

Palace of Westminster: Public Statues

lord adonis: The Senior Deputy Speaker what plans there are to conduct a public consultation on the removal of the statue of Oliver Cromwell from outside the Palace of Westminster.

lord mcfall of alcluith: The statue of Oliver Cromwell outside the Palace of Westminster belongs to the House of Commons. Any such action in relation to the statue will therefore be for the House of Commons to determine.

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements: USA

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that their policies of ensuring clear labelling of food to support people to make informed healthy choices, enabled by using food labelling to avoid foods high in sugar, salt, and fat, are not compromised by any trade agreement reached with the government of the United States.

lord grimstone of boscobel: The Government has been very clear that any future trade deals must work for UK consumers, not compromising on our standards. The Government will continue to support healthy choices through clear labelling, while respecting our WTO obligations to ensure that technical regulations do not create unnecessary obstacles to international trade.

Trade Agreements: USA

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to maintain food safety standards in the course of their negotiations for a trade agreement with the government of the United States; and whatplans they have (1) to banfood washed with chlorine, and (2) to ensure that people are protected from food-borne illnesses.

lord grimstone of boscobel: The UK will decide how we set and maintain our own standards and regulations and we have been clear that we will not compromise on our high environmental, food safety and animal welfare standards now that we have left the European Union. Any future deal with the US must work for UK consumers, farmers and companies. Without exception, imports into the UK will meet our stringent food safety standards.

Trade Agreements: USA

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect (1) animal welfare, and (2) environmental, standards in their negotiations with the government of the United States for a trade agreement; what assessment they have made of the impact that imports of food from the US may have on the working practices of UK livestock farmers; and what plans they have to ban such imports.

lord grimstone of boscobel: The UK will decide how we set and maintain our own standards and regulations and we will not compromise on our high standards of food safety and animal welfare. The UK’s food regulators will continue to provide independent advice to ensure that all food imports into the UK comply with those high safety standards. Any future deal with the US must work for UK consumers, farmers and companies. Without exception, imports into the UK will meet our stringent food safety standards.

UK Trade With EU

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last met the Director of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the impact on businesses of changes to export and import arrangements which will be required following the end of the transition period in December.

lord grimstone of boscobel: The Department for International Trade (DIT) engages regularly with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on a range of trade issues, including arrangements for business in the post-transition period. Along with other cross-cutting business representative groups CBI senior leaders have met with DIT Ministers to discuss business trade priorities since the creation of the Department in 2016. CBI is a member of DIT’s Strategic Trade Advisory Group (STAG) and the Export Trade Advisory Groups (ETAG) for customs, investment and trade for development; CBI is also an established partner and supporter of DIT’s Exporting is GREAT campaign On 6 April, my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade had a call with CBI’s Director General, Carolyn Fairbairn, in which they discussed DIT’s key priorities as an independent trading nation. These included the UK Global Tariff, preparations for Free Trade Agreements, the Trade Remedies Authority and looking at the future of trade post-C19 and the future of supply chains. The latter covered DIT’s export and investment strategies which will support UK exporters and provide stimulus to UK business and trade.

Trade Agreements: Environment Protection

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with UK trade partners on maintaining environmental protection standards in trade agreements.

lord grimstone of boscobel: We are clear that more trade does not have to come at the expense of the environment. HM Government is committed to meeting its ambitious environmental objectives and the United Kingdom has long supported the promotion of our values globally. This will continue now that we have left the EU.The precise details of any United Kingdom free trade agreement are a matter for formal negotiations and we would not seek to pre-empt these discussions, but I can assure the Noble Lady that we are exploring all options in the design of future trade and investment agreements, including possible environment provisions, to ensure that future trade is sustainable and upholds the United Kingdom’s high environmental standards.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Religious Buildings: Coronavirus

baroness neville-rolfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow the reopening of churches in the UK following their closure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and what, if any, health measures will be put in place to facilitate the reopening of places of worship.

lord greenhalgh: On 11 May, the Government published the document “Our Plan to Rebuild”, which outlined the steps it would be taking to ease the lockdown restrictions.The Government continues to consider how to allow places of worship to reopen for additional uses in Step 3 of its roadmap, which is expected to be no earlier 4 July, subject to further scientific advice. As part of the steps to ease the restrictions, the Government launched a Places of Worship Taskforce to look at how they can reopen and operate safely. Meetings are being led by the Secretary of State for Communities, or the Faith Minister, and comprise of representatives from the country’s major faiths. The Taskforce is working towards the safe reopening of places of worship as soon as possible. It also addresses the specific issues that places of worship will face as they prepare to reopen safely.As of Saturday 13 June, places of worship are now permitted to open for individual prayer, in line with social distancing guidelines. We have published (attached) guidance to support places of worship to do this in a way that is safe and in line with social distancing. Communal prayers, worship or devotion will not be possible at this stage. The Government will continue to work with the Taskforce towards the full reopening of places of worship as soon as the scientific advice allows.Places of worship play an important role in spiritual and mental health for many, and in bringing our communities together, which is why we want them to reopen them as soon as we can. However, no place of worship will be able to reopen for further activities before a final decision by the Government and the accompanying changes to the legal position in the published regulations. Even after we permit places of worship to reopen for further activities, some may choose to reopen in stages or at a slower pace depending on their local circumstances.The current list of permitted activities that can take place within a place of worship can be found (attached) on gov.uk here, and the associated regulations can be found here. These documents will be updated as and when further changes come into effect.   



Our Plan to Rebuild
(PDF Document, 1.72 MB)




Guidance for the safe use of places of worship
(PDF Document, 161.47 KB)




Closing certain business and venues in England
(PDF Document, 130.74 KB)

Religious Buildings: Coronavirus

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan topermit churches and other places of worship to reopen.

lord greenhalgh: On 11 May, the Government published the document (attached) “Our Plan to Rebuild”, which outlined the steps it would be taking to ease the lockdown restrictions.The Government continues to consider how to allow places of worship to reopen for additional uses in Step 3 of its roadmap, which is expected to be no earlier 4 July, subject to further scientific advice. As part of the steps to ease the restrictions, the Government launched a Places of Worship Taskforce to look at how they can reopen and operate safely. Meetings are being led by the Secretary of State for Communities, or the Faith Minister, and comprise of representatives from the country’s major faiths. The Taskforce is working towards the safe reopening of places of worship as soon as possible. It also addresses the specific issues that places of worship will face as they prepare to reopen safely.As of Saturday 13 June, places of worship are now permitted to open for individual prayer, in line with social distancing guidelines. We have published guidance (attached) to support places of worship to do this in a way that is safe and in line with social distancing. Communal prayers, worship or devotion will not be possible at this stage. The Government will continue to work with the Taskforce towards the full reopening of places of worship as soon as the scientific advice allows.Places of worship play an important role in spiritual and mental health for many, and in bringing our communities together, which is why we want them to reopen them as soon as we can. However, no place of worship will be able to reopen for further activities before a final decision by the Government and the accompanying changes to the legal position in the published regulations. Even after we permit places of worship to reopen for further activities, some may choose to reopen in stages or at a slower pace depending on their local circumstances.The current list of permitted activities that can take place within a place of worship can be found (attached) on gov.uk here, and the associated regulations can be found here. These documents will be updated as and when further changes come into effect. 



Our Plan to Rebuild
(PDF Document, 1.72 MB)




Guidance for the safe use of places of worship
(PDF Document, 161.47 KB)




Closing certain business and venues in England
(PDF Document, 130.74 KB)

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 2 June (HL Deb, col 1279), why they do not suspend the repayment of universal credit advance payments for six months as opposed to converting advances into non-repayable payments, as recommended by the Resolution Foundation.

baroness stedman-scott: Nobody has to wait five weeks for a payment under Universal Credit. Advances are a mechanism for getting claimants faster access to their entitlement; allowing claimants to receive 13 payments over 12 months with up to 12 months to repay the advance. New Claims Advances of up to 100 per cent of potential entitlement are available if a claimant needs support during their first assessment period. Face-to-face checks for Universal Credit advances have been scrapped due to COVID-19, so people get the support they need despite COVID-19 restrictions. The Government has already taken steps to help ease the burden of the repayment of advances.We have reduced the maximum deduction from 40 per cent to 30 per cent of a claimant’s standard allowance. The Budget 2020 set out that the maximum level will be further reduced, so that standard deductions will not exceed 25 per cent of a claimant’s Standard Allowance from October 2021. The repayment time for advances has already been extended from six months to 12 months, and a further extension to 24 months from October 2021 was announced in the budget. Claimants can ask for repayments to be delayed for up to three months if they can’t afford them. We continue to review our policies but have no further planned changes at this time.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Water Supply

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following reports that Wolverhampton and Shropshire face failure of their water supplies, what steps they are taking to reduce demand and leakage, and to secure supplies, both in the short term in response to dry weather and high usage reportedly due to lockdown, and in the longer term.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: The current water supply issues in Wolverhampton and Shropshire are due to constraints in Severn Trent Water's distribution network, and not a lack of available water. Severn Trent Water has responded to the issue by asking customers to use water wisely to reduce demand. The CEO of Severn Trent Water attended the National Drought Group chaired by the Environment Agency on 5 June 2020 to discuss the current risks and approaches to the dry weather and water demand management. If the company has issues with available water resources it will activate its statutory Drought Plan to manage the situation. In the long term, the water company will need to assess how it manages its supply and demand, including proactively reducing leakage and managing demand through its statutory Water Resources Management Plan. In addition, through its business plan that it submits to Ofwat it will need to assess whether it has the correct infrastructure to cope with future demands from customers.

Droughts

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have put in place to deal with any long spring and summer drought, in particular in relation to the potential impact of such a drought on food supplies and public health.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The Government has a range of policies in place to mitigate the impacts of drought, including the impact on food supplies and public health: The Environment Agency, which has responsibility for managing water resources and protecting the environment, chairs the National Drought Group (NDG). The NDG consists of representatives from regulators such as Public Health England (PHE), the agricultural sector and water companies. This group ensures that all sectors work together and take action to manage any impacts of dry weather and drought. Water companies have the legal duty to supply adequate quantities of wholesome water. To fulfil their duties, water companies maintain statutory drought plans, which set out the short-term actions they will take should a drought develop. Water companies’ drought plans are published on their websites. The impacts of drought on food supply are mitigated by the UK’s robust and reliable food industry, which is experienced in dealing with scenarios that can affect food supply, from adverse weather damaging crops to transport issues abroad. The size and diversity of the industry is a key factor in enabling the food sector to remain resilient to food supply chain disruptions. The expertise, capability, levers and resilience to plan for and respond to food supply disruption lies within the industry. The health effects of drought are primarily indirect, including: injury, risk to public and private water supply; dust-related problems for those with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease; and impacts on mental health and wellbeing. PHE specifically plans for the risks of hot weather, including drought, in the Heatwave and Summer preparedness programme of the Heatwave Plan for England - which became operational in June 2020.

Zoos: Coronavirus

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the future prospects for (1) Chester Zoo, (2) other major zoos and (3) small zoos; and what plans they haveto secure the future of zoos and their animals.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: We recognise that zoos are working tirelessly during this challenging time to ensure the health and welfare needs of animal collections in their care continue to be met. We have been engaging regularly with zoos, including Chester Zoo, to gather information and supporting evidence to understand the impacts of coronavirus on the sector. The £14 million Zoos Support Fund was opened on 4 May to help those zoos, safari parks, aquariums and eligible farm visitor attractions in severe financial distress due to the disruption caused by coronavirus. This Fund remains open for applications until 19 July 2020. As announced by the Prime Minister on 10 June, outdoor areas of zoos and safari parks are now allowed to reopen, subject to appropriate social distancing measures being in place. Allowing zoos to reopen is an integral step towards supporting an early financial recovery. Consideration of proposals for any longer-term support that might be needed for the sector is ongoing. With the help and support of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) we are working diligently to find the best way forward.

Lapwings: Conservation

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the current (1) numbers, and (2) distribution, of lapwings in the United Kingdom, and what plans they have to support an increase in their numbers.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: The latest estimates of lapwing are 6,500 pairs and 620,000 individuals in Britain (Frost et al. 2020). The latest national bird survey, ‘Bird Atlas 2007-11’, published results on the distribution of lapwing during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. In Britain, during the breeding season, lapwing were present in 2,241 ten-kilometre squares, which is 74% of the total. Except for southwest England, lapwing breed almost throughout rural England. During the non-breeding season, lapwing were present in 2,309 ten-kilometre squares, which is 80% of the total. The lapwing is a species of conservation concern and is closely associated with the farmed and managed landscape therefore agri-environment schemes have an important role to play in its recovery. The current Countryside Stewardship (CS) scheme includes tailored options designed to meet the requirements of breeding lapwings on grassland and arable farmland, including the management of grassland to provide the right structure for nesting and to supply food for chicks. On arable farmland CS fallow plots have been created and designed to suit lapwing that breed in that particular habitat. This year, new CS options are also available which will benefit lapwings.

Home Office

Quarantine: Hong Kong

baroness meyer: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the proposed 14-day quarantine for those entering the UK will be adapted to reflect the different levels of COVID-19 infection and mortality in different countries; and whether holders of British Nationals (Overseas) passports, and their families, travelling from Hong Kong will be subject to the quarantine requirements.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government is exploring all options to allow us to safely increase travel including international travel corridors. In due course more information will be published on the criteria that must be satisfied to lift these public health measures, or to move to a new approach.From 8 June, all passengers arriving in the UK will be required to self-isolate for 14 days and could be contacted throughout this period to ensure compliance. This applies to all nationalities, including holders of British Nationals (Overseas) Passports and their families.

Biometrics: Protective Clothing

baroness hamwee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the efficacy of facial recognition technology when significant numbers of members of the public are wearing protective masks.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office has not made any such assessment.

Demonstrations: Social Distancing

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police aboutthe csae for the police to intervene to enforce social distancing during mass demonstrations (1) outside the US Embassy in London, and (2) in Hyde Park.

baroness williams of trafford: We strongly support the right to protest peacefully, but this pandemic has led to many of our individual freedoms being curtailed because everyone has a role to play in helping to control the virus following the rules. This is how we can continue to save lives so we can recover. Under the current regulations, gatherings of more than six people from different households are not permitted. We are in close contact with police to ensure they are prepared to respond to any public disorder and have appropriate policing plans in place. How they use these powers is an operational matter for the police, who are independent of Government.In London, the Metropolitan Police continues to monitor the situation and is aware of a number of protests over the next week. The management of public order is an operational matter for the police, who routinely have plans in place to ensure they are prepared to respond to any public disorder. The Police have adopted an effective approach of the 4Es; engaging, explaining and encouraging compliance before moving to enforcement options. The National Police Chiefs Council and the College of Policing have issued guidance on how they will enforce the regulation. This can be found at https://www.college.police.uk/News/College-news/Pages/Health-Protection-Guidelines.aspx.

Police: Protective Clothing

lord harris of haringey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 2 June (HL4611), whether they will now answer the question put, namely what assessment they have made of the average quantity of personal protective equipment required on a daily basis by the police service; and if they have not made such an assessment, why not.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government recognises the importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all of those on the frontline, including police. The Home Secretary and Minister for Policing have regular conversations with police forces about a range of matters including supply of PPE, ensuring a sufficient daily supply is available. The National Police Co-ordination Centre is co-ordinating police PPE procurement and distribution across the whole country and confirm that police currently have a good supply of PPE. The amount of PPE in stock and used by each force is not held centrally. That is an operational matter for forces.

Immigrants: Detainees

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people are currently detained under immigration powers in (1) immigration removal centres, and (2) prisons, in the UK.

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many removals and deportations from the UK have been effected since 23 March, and to which countries.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office publishes data on people in detention and returns from the UK in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release) Data on the number of people in detention under immigration powers by quarter and nationality are published in table Det_D02 of the immigration detention detailed datasets (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/returns-and-detention-datasets#immigration-detention). Data on the number of returns from the UK by type of return and destination are published in Ret_D02 of the returns detailed datasets (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/returns-and-detention-datasets). The term 'deportations' refers to a legally-defined subset of returns which are enforced either following a criminal conviction or when it is judged that a person’s removal from the UK is conducive to the public good. Information on those deported is not separately available and therefore the published statistics refer to all enforced returns. Additionally, the Home Office publishes a high-level overview of the data in the ‘Summary tables’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/immigration-statistics-data-tables-year-ending-march-2020#returns). The ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on detention. A statistical report Statistics relating to Covid-19 and the immigration system, May 2020 (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-relating-to-covid-19-and-the-immigration-system-may-2020), released on 28 May 2020 provides further high-level information relating to detention and Covid-19 up to the end of April. Figures covering the second quarter of 2020 will be published in the next Immigration Statistics release on 27 August 2020. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’ (https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics?content_store_document_type=upcoming_statistics&organisations%5B%5D=home-office&order=release-date-oldest).

Deportation: Coronavirus

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government to which countries it is currently not possible to remove or deport people as a result of COVID-19 global travel restrictions; and whether they will publish a weekly list of these countries, updated with any new changes.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office continues to monitor the on-going changes to international flight restrictions and entry requirements imposed by receiving countries caused by the global response to COVID-19. Enforced and voluntary returns continue on a case by case basis where we are able to do so.Given the difficulty of returning to many countries in the current situation and the constantly evolving conditions worldwide, it would not be practical to publish a list of countries where return is still not possible..

Immigrants: Detainees

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many new detentions under immigration powers there have been since 23 March; in which centres people were so detained and what was their country of origin; and of these how many involved (1) people transferred from prisons into immigration detention at the end of their prison sentences, (2) people detained after chance encounters with immigration enforcement, and (3) planned detentions.

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many transfers of detainees, whether from a prison to an immigration removal centre or from one immigration removal centre to another, have occurred since 23 March.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government published statistics relating to COVID-19 and the immigration system on gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-relating-to-covid-19-and-the-immigration-system-may-2020), on 28 May and the latest Immigration Statistics publication (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-march-2020) includes the numbers of individuals detained under immigration powers in prisons. Since the UK lockdown was announced on 23 March 2020 (up to the 30 April 2020), 295 people have entered detention, 231 of which were clandestine entrants held by UKVI for processing before being dispersed through appropriate routes. Those being held for processing spend very short periods of time at a short-term holding facility and can only be held for a maximum of seven days. This does not include those who were transferred to the detention estate from prison. Statistics on people in immigration detention during the second quarter of 2020 (April to June) will be published in August in the immigration statistics quarterly release. Immigration offenders encountered by Immigration Enforcement by chance or as part of a planned operation, will be considered for detention for the purpose of removal, on a case-by-case basis, by applying the published detention and adults at risk in immigration detention policies. Information on the current situation in any given country is used when making decisions to detain. The safety and health of people in the detention estate are of the utmost importance. We are following all Public Health England guidance and have robust contingency plans in place. As of 17 June 2020, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in immigration removal centres.

Cabinet Office

Civil Service: Brexit

baroness hayter of kentish town: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the Institute of Government The civil service after Brexit: lessons from the Article 50 Period, published on 15 May, what plans they have to (1) amend, or (2) strengthen, the Ministerial Code with regard to the messages authorised to be used in government communications.

baroness hayter of kentish town: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the Institute of Government The civil service after Brexit: lessons from the Article 50 Period, published on 15 May, what plans they have to consider whether the ability of a civil servant to request a ministerial direction should be extended to actions other than just expenditure.

lord true: As has been the case under successive administrations, the Government keeps the Ministerial Code and the managing of public money under review. There are, however, no plans to amend or strengthen the Ministerial Code in the way suggested.

Statutory Instruments

baroness hayter of kentish town: To ask Her Majesty's Government which statutory instruments can be made as an Order in Council without parliamentary approval.

lord true: Prerogative business made on the advice of the Privy Council by Order in Council is not subject to parliamentary procedure and relates almost exclusively to the affairs of Chartered bodies.

Treasury

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they intend to have with the most economically developed countries, the World Bank, and the IMF, about effective cooperation to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences; and whether they intend to include conditional debt relief in any such discussions.

lord agnew of oulton: The UK Government continues to engage very closely and regularly with the international community, the World Bank, and the IMF, to respond to the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. G7 Finance Ministers continue to convene on a regular basis to work together on critical economic issues, and G20 Finance Ministers will next meet on 19 July to continue to coordinate the international response to the pandemic. The UK recently led the development of the G20 Action Plan, which brings together ambitious and wide-ranging commitments to address the economic impact of the virus. As part of this, the Chancellor and his G20 counterparts, in close consultation with the World Bank and the IMF, agreed to a temporary suspension on debt service repayments from the poorest countries. We are working closely with G20 partner countries and international organisations (including the IMF and World Bank) to monitor the implementation of the Action Plan and ensure it maintains efficacy. The UK Government will also work through the G20 and Paris Club of official creditors to monitor sovereign debt vulnerabilities in developing countries closely. To ensure that the most vulnerable are able to successfully respond to the crisis, the UK has also committed up to £150m to the IMF’s Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust. This will suspend upcoming IMF obligations for the poorest countries, allowing them to better respond to Covid-19.

Barristers: Coronavirus

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to exempt barristers from business rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord agnew of oulton: Office space, such as barristers’ chambers, is not eligible for the retail, hospitality and leisure relief business rates relief. A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, has been made available. For example, the Government has launched the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms keep people in employment, and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme: Barristers

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to supportpublicly funded barristers who are ineligible for theSelf-Employment Income Support Scheme.

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to expand the range of evidence newly practising barristers can submit to be eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.

lord agnew of oulton: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has said there will be no further changes and no further extensions to the Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), which continues to be one of the most generous in the world. Barristers who are ineligible for this scheme may be eligible for other elements of the unprecedented financial support provided by the Government. This package includes Bounce Back loans, tax deferrals, rental support, increased levels of Universal Credit, mortgage holidays, and other business support grants.

Claims Management Services: Regulation

baroness hayter of kentish town: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the Financial Conduct Authority has sufficient powers to regulate claims management companies, particularly in relation to cold calling.

lord agnew of oulton: The Government is confident that the FCA has a broad suite of authorisation, supervision and enforcement powers to regulate the conduct of claims management companies (CMCs). The Financial Guidance and Claims Act 2018 transferred responsibility for the regulation of CMCs from the Claims Management Regulator, a unit of the Ministry of Justice, to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as of 1 April 2019. This transfer was intended to enable the application of the FCA’s Senior Managers Regime to CMCs, allow for the creation of more detailed conduct rules to address issues that were causing consumer detriment, and effectively facilitate tougher regulation. The Act also provided for a ban on cold calling, unless prior consent has been given, by amending the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations. Following the transfer, the FCA is currently carrying out a process of re-authorisation, whereby all CMCs must re-apply for permission to operate in the sectors regulated by the FCA. Once this process of re-authorisation has progressed further, HM Treasury will be able to make any necessary assessments of whether the current model for CMC regulation is operating effectively.

Energy Intensive Industries: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

the lord bishop of salisbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that financial support to fossil fuel-intensive and high carbon producing industries is in line with (1) their Paris Agreement obligations, (2) their target for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; and (3) their commitment to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2035.

lord agnew of oulton: The Government continues to take its environmental responsibilities very seriously and is committed to meeting its climate change targets. The UK is a world leader in clean growth. Spring Budget 2020 reinforce the UK’s strong track record in this area with at least £800m for carbon capture and storage, over £1bn of further support for ultra-low emission vehicles, at least doubling funding for energy innovation, and tax measures to encourage greater energy efficiency and tackle plastic waste. We recognise the importance of a strong economy to support the transition to net zero, meet our Paris Agreement obligations and continue the UK's leadership in clean growth.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Royal Life Saving Society: Grants

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide a funding grant to the Royal Life Saving Society for that society to support the leisure industry in quickly re-qualifying its safety staff.

baroness barran: Sport England, has announced £210 million of funding to help sport and physical activity organisations deal with the short and long term effects of the pandemic. Further information about how sports organisations can access this support is available on the Sport England website. In addition, HM Government is distributing £200m via the National Lottery Community Fund to support voluntary organisations most impacted by Covid-19 as part of the wider £750m Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise funding package announced by the Chancellor. DCMS will continue to work closely with organisations across the sport sector to understand the economic impact on them and how the Government can continue to support them. It is up to RLSS to apply for funding as they see fit.

5G: Huawei

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will conduct a review into the role being played by Huawei in the extension of 5G coverage in the UK.

baroness barran: The final conclusions of the Government’s Telecoms Supply Chain Review in relation to high risk vendors were announced on 28 January. The Government has been clear, however, that as risks, threats and technology changes we need to keep the position under review. On the 15th May the US Department of Commerce announced that they were taking further action against Huawei. The National Cyber Security Centre is considering what the impact of the US sanctions might be.

Charities: Coronavirus

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the time it takes for charities to access government support provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness barran: The Government has announced a broad package of support for businesses and charities to ensure that organisations that need support are able to access it. This includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the option to defer VAT payments due between 20 March and 30 June 2020. In addition, on 8 April the Government announced a £750 million funding package to ensure charities providing frontline services to vulnerable people affected by the pandemic can continue their vital work. We have been focused on distributing these funds as quickly as possible, but balanced with ensuring it reaches those that need it most. Of this, £360 million was to be allocated to individual government departments based on evidence of service need. This funding has now been allocated to government departments, who are using a range of approaches to award funding either directly to charities or through bidding processes. All funding must be spent by the end of October 2020. £370 million has been allocated to support small and medium sized charities during the pandemic. This includes £60 million funding through the Barnett formula to support charities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Of the £310 million to be spent in England, £200 million has been distributed to the National Lottery Community Fund to award grants through the Coronavirus Community Support Fund. Applications for this fund opened on 22 May and the National Lottery Community Fund is assessing applications in the order in which they are received, in order to award grants as quickly as possible. In addition, the Government is matching public donations to the BBC Big Night In. The first £20 million of match funding went to the National Emergencies Trust. The 47 local Community Foundations across the UK, including Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland will then provide grant funding to eligible organisations within their community. Further information on available funds and how to apply for them can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/financial-support-for-voluntary-community-and-social-enterprise-vcse-organisations-to-respond-to-coronavirus-covid-19.

Public Statues: City of Westminster

lord adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to conduct a public consultation on removing the statue of Robert Clive on King Charles Street in Westminster.

baroness barran: There are no plans for a public consultation on removing the statue of Robert Clive on King Charles Street in Westminster. The Government does not propose to remove statues or memorials on its property. We believe it is always legitimate to examine and debate Britain’s history, but removing statues is not the right approach. The statues in our cities and towns were put up by previous generations, who had different perspectives and different understandings of right and wrong. But those statues play an important role in teaching us about our past, with all its faults. The Government therefore believes that we should use heritage to educate people about all aspects of Britain’s complex past, good and bad, rather than airbrushing history. Historic England, as the Government’s adviser on the historic environment, have set out why they believe removing difficult and contentious parts of the historic environment risks harming our understanding of our collective past. They and other heritage funding bodies invest significantly in improving public access to historical objects, providing contemporary interpretation of them and supporting diverse heritage projects around the country.

Music: Coronavirus

lord lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to issue formal guidance on the safe resumption of choral singing following the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness barran: In order to ensure appropriate support and guidance is given to the cultural sector, DCMS has established the Cultural Renewal Taskforce and the Entertainment and Events working group which include extensive membership from artists and performers. Caroline Dinenage MP, Minister for Digital and Culture, has also held a roundtable with representatives from the choral sector to enable choral groups to feed in views to the development of guidance.The Taskforce and Working Groups will be focusing on ensuring that COVID-19 secure guidelines are developed in line with the phasing ambitions and public health directions, building on the existing guidance and providing intelligence and sector-specific expert input. Full details of the Taskforce can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/culture-secretary-announces-cultural-renewal-taskforc,e and the Entertainment and Events Working Group can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/cultural-renewal-taskforce-and-supporting-working-groups#entertainment-and-events-members.

National Heritage Memorial Fund: Coronavirus

lord smith of finsbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider increasing their annual grant to the National Heritage Memorial Fund as a tribute to those who have lost their lives in the UK to COVID-19.

baroness barran: All spending decisions are a matter for the Chancellor. Government is currently looking at options to offer further support to the heritage sector. The National Heritage Memorial Fund receives £5million a year from the Government.In this, its 40th anniversary year, it is right to acknowledge the vast contribution that the National Heritage Memorial Fund has made to saving more than 1,200 of the UK’s most iconic objects and places, through grants totalling over £365million.

Sports: Coronavirus

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the role of professional and semi-professional football and other sporting clubs in the community life and economy of small and medium-sized towns, and (2) the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial position and future of such clubs; and whether they have plans to provide support to such clubs.

baroness barran: Football clubs form an integral part of this country, with many holding great social and economic value to their local communities. The generosity and care shown by football clubs of all sizes never ceases to amaze with many volunteering both time and money during these difficult times. Their presence will continue to be vital as we emerge from the pandemic and it is therefore important they are given as much support as possible. In light of this, the Government announced a comprehensive and sizable package of direct fiscal support for business through tax reliefs, cash grants and employee wage support. It is also crucial that the football community comes together at this time, and I have underlined our expectation that the resumption of the Premier League and the Championship will benefit the entire football pyramid. The Government will continue to liaise closely with all the football authorities to further understand the difficulties clubs are experiencing.

D-Day Landings: War Memorials

lord selkirk of douglas: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they are not providing funding for the continued upkeep of the site of the memorial at Ver-sur-Mer to those under British command who lost their lives at the D-Day landings and in the Battle of Normandy.

baroness barran: The British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer may be eligible for support through the Memorial Grant Scheme which is administered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The scheme makes grants towards the VAT incurred by charities and faith groups in the construction, repair and maintenance of public memorial structures, including war memorials. The scheme has a fixed budget of £0.5m per year for this spending period. More detail can be found here- http://www.memorialgrant.org.uk/.

Leisure: Coronavirus

lord pickles: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the District Councils' Network on the safe opening of leisure facilities following the COVID-19pandemic.

baroness barran: Leisure facilities and gyms play a crucial role in supporting people to be active and the Government is committed to reopening sports and physical activity facilities as soon as it is safe to do so. We are holding regular discussions with representatives from the leisure sector, national sports organisations and local authorities to support the opening of facilities in a timely and safe manner once lockdown measures are eased. The Minister for Sport discussed some of these matters directly with the District Council Network at one of its weekly conference calls on Monday 8 June. As with all aspects of the Government’s response to Covid-19, we will be guided by the science to ensure that as restrictions are eased people can return to activity safely.